The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-24

THE HAWAIIAN BOARD OF HEALTH.

The Hawaiian Board of Health has
been constituted under an Act approved
October 7, 1886, and consists of the fol-
lowing persons skilled IN the practice
OF native medicine, of good character, -
who are to serve during the Kings pleas
ure: Princess Poomaikelani, President /;
5. w. Mahelona, Kama, Hon. Junius
haae and n. Kahunaaiole. We are
quite igT0ra1ltO Of the medical skill Of the
respective members ~Of-the Hawaiian
Board of Health, but we presume they
fill the bill or they would not have been
appointed.
1t is the power which this Board will
exercise that concerns the public most.
By section 2 of the Act the Hawaiian
Board of Health is constituted an exam
lining body, whose "duty it shall be to
hear all applications made by native Ha-
waiians who wish to practice native med
icine i'll this Kingdom for the cure Of
any kind of disease, or for the cure OF
chronic diseases or hereditary diseases,
be stated in the application" These are
pretty general powers to grant to any ex
aiming body like the above named, and
section 4 of the Act makes it mandatory
upon the Minister of the Interior to issue
q license to practice medicine, cure dis
eases and broken bones, to any one pre-
senting a certificate of qualification from
the Hawaiian Board of Health upon
payment of a fee of 500. This is bring
ing the practice of the healing art
within the reach of the humblest native,
and if the success of the homemade
practitioners only equals their temerity,
disease should soon be eradicated.
There is a saving clause in the Act.
Section 5 prohibits, under penalty OF
forfeiture of license, any Hawaiian ply
stefan from practicing "hOomanamana,
hOOpiOpiO, anaana, or hoOunauna.'
These practices are left to the kahunas,
We presume, or their efficacy may be
tested by the regular Faculty, if they
choose to experiment in this field oil
Investigation without any penalty at
tdched. Seriously, we do not think this
prohibition will have much effect, be-
cause among every primitive race the
uDernatural has always been resorted
q in the treatment of disease, and even
hong people of higher standard OF
civilization there are cranks who resort
% all sorts OF absurd practices and de
-
Tie law sometimes interposes, however, |
and the operating crank finds himself |!
occasionally undergoing punishment |
upon conviction for manslaughter |
doubtless the intention of this pro
vision of the law was to discourage ka-
huna diabolism, but we venture to pre-
.tict that no certificate will be cancelled |
nder it.
The licensed practitioner is protected |
X sectlGi 6 from A. !aet9ye medical trse Il
auces by a fine of 500 in each case. The f
I .-waiian Board of Health has also the {
over to appoint district examining @
cards to pass upon the qualifications
{ applicants for licenses. We presume t
ia intended to issue certificates upon I
vorable reports from these district !
cards. although the law does not SO
rovide. 7
A question arises here whether the .
ossession of license to practice Ha I
yaiian medicine from the Minister of I
he Interior con the order" of the Ha l
-aiian Board of Health, qualities the 5
older thereof to grant license for the
Sc of opium under Section 2 OF an Act |
, regulate the importation and sale OF
plum, approved October ID, 1886. The :
hole point turns upon the definition OF ,
ne word physician" in line 10, section /
OF the Opium Law, and whether opium
n any OF its forms was used in the
practice of native medicine. We OF
n no opinion upon the point, but leave +
with the medical profession to deal L
18th as they please.
One cannot help thinking, however, a
nat this Act will be regarded abroad as L